Means for insuring uniform pressure upon explosive charges of detonators



D. D. HUYETT MEANS FOR INSURING UNIFORM PRESSURE UPON EXPLOSIVE CHARGES OF DETONATORS Filed June 23. 1925 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL n. nuvn'r'r, or WILMINGTON, nnnawnm, AssIGNoa 'ro ATLAS rownnn COMPANY, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

MEANS FOR INSURING UNIFORM PRES SURE UPON EXPLOSIVE CHARGES OF DETONATORS.

Application filed June 23,

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that DANIEL' D. Hurnrr, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Wilaised, into' a large number of detonator shells or metal casings, in a single operation, and then remove the rack containing the charged shells to a press where pressure is applied simultaneously to allof the charges by means of numerous metal punches, one of which enters the open end of each shell. These punches are mounted in a common press head and, with equal length punches, all

" charges. are thus compressed to a uniform heig t.

It is a well known fact that by any of 1 the methods. which may be employed commercia lly, an exactly. uniform weight of charge cannot be deposited into the detonator shells. This is due to the fact that the charges are measured. out by first filling a series of holes of the. approximate. cublcal content desired, with the explosive used and then permitting this charge to fall into the shells. Variations in density of the explosive as well as variations in its flowing properties render it impossible to deliver charges of exactly uniform weight. As a consequence, with the usual methods of pressing, the under-weight charges are under-pressed while the over-weight charges are overpressed.

The over-pressedcharges may result in distorted and bulged detonator shells and there is also the possibility of rendering the charge non-e losive by over-compressing, as for examp e, dead-pressed fulminate charges. On the other hand, under-pressed charges are conducive to even ter ills. The explosive charge not being firmly pressed mto a common mass tends to loosen and subsequently fall out of the open end of 1925. Serial No. 39,093.

the detonator shell. Thev presefnce of loose explosives in the metal containers in which detonators are usually packed constitutes a hazard in itself. Furthermore the possibility of detonators, from which part or all of the explosive charge has been lost, being used for setting ofl' other explosives, may result in the well known dangerous and costly mis- The use of hydraulic pressure to equalize the thrust exerted by the 202 press points, mounted on the head of a. fulminate seating press, presents-many advantages, The one great draw back in the use of this method arises from leakage of the oil, Water or other pressure medium, past the pistons and onto the press points where it comes in contact with-and desensitizes the fulminate.

Therefore, the primary object in the present invention is to provide a hydraulic equalizin structure, of the class of the character ind cated, by means of which uniform pressure ma be exerted upon the explosive charges whi e at the sametime leakage of the pressure medium, to and upon the,

punches, will be effectively prevented.

The figure shown in the accompanying drawing is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, illustrating a portion of a press head constructed in accordance with the invention. In the construction illustrated, the press headcomprises a cap 5, a body 6 and a base plate 7. The base plate 7 is recessed as indicated at 8 for the reception of the heads 9 of the unches 10. The body 6 is vertically channe ed to constitute a plurality of cylinders 11, in which pistons 12 are mounted for vertical movement. Rods 13, which depend from the pis- I mon pressure fluid conduit 14. The several pistons are suitably packed, conventional leather packing being indicated at- 15, and said packing being held in place by washers and screws 16 and 17.

The pistons 12 carry depending sleeves 18, which are sweated or otherwise secured with fluid tight joints to the pistons. The rods 13 pass through snugly fitting .tubes 19, which are sweated into the lower ends of the cyl-' inders and, project upwardly into the cylmders and within the sleeves 18. Thus, any seepage past the pistons'is trapped'in the spaces between thetubes and the sleeves and is carried off through an oil leakage return pipe 20; which is in communication with a conduit 21, that leads to the lower end of all of the cylinders. 1

Any desired pressure may be maintained in the conduit 14'and whatever. pressure is maintained in 'said conduit will be imparted with uniformity to all of thepress points, through theconstruction illustrated and described.

It is to be understood that the invention 'is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview Whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: I 1. A structure of, the character described comprising a plurality of press points, a.-

body of pressure. fluid common to all of said points and means for imparting, the pressure 6% the fluid to the several points. v

. e combination with a press head of a carried thereby, a plurality of pistons mounted in the press head, one for each of the press points, said pistons exerting pressure upon the rose points and a ressure flllld conduit with which all of sai pistons are in communication.

4. A structure as recited in claim 3 m combination with means for conducting 7 away from the press points any of the pressure fluids which pass said pistons.

5. In combinationa press head channeled to form a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of press points in alignmentwith said cylmders, pistons in the cylinders, rods carried plurality of pistons inalignment therewith' and exerting pressure thereon, cylinders in.

which said pistons move, sleeves having fluid tight engagement withthe pistons andmovable therewith and tubes projecting upwardly from the lower ends 0 the cylinders into said sleeves, there being a pressure fluid plurality of pistons mounted therein, a pl'udischarge conduit leading from the lower rality of press oints upon which ressure is exerted by said? pistons and a b y ofpressure fluid common to all of said pistons.

3. The combination with a movable press head of a plurality of movable press points ends of .said cylinders.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his-signature.

DANIEL -D. HUYETT. 

